Eco Fashion & Textiles Conference Schedule of Events

Friday

6:00pm - 8:00pm : Speaker and VIP Dinner

9:00pm - 11:00pm : Welcome Party 

Saturday

9:15am - 9:30am : Welcome from Mayor McFarlane - Nancy has long been recognized as a leader in environmental stewardship for Raleigh and NC. She is the Council liaison to many environmental advocacy groups including the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, Storm Management Advisory Commission, and the Environmental Advisory Board. Nancy truly believes that we do not have to sacrifice the integrity of our environment in order to accommodate our current needs. Nancy has been a long time supporter of Redress Raleigh and last year we honored to have her welcome our audience to our 2012 Eco-Fashion Show.  

9:30am - 10:15am : Keynote Speaker Elizabeth Cline - Author of Overdressed, Elizabeth will speak about the rise of fast fashion both in the United States and around the world. Retailers are producing clothes at enormous volumes in order to drive prices down and profits up, and they've turned clothing into a disposable good. But what are we doing with all these cheap clothes? And more importantly, what are they doing to us, our society, our environment, and our economic well-being? 

10:30am - 11:30am : First Session of Workshops, Lectures, and Panel Discussions

• A (Lecture) 
  Creating and Sharing your Sustainability Story | Featuring Greta Eagan - Greta will present the following: How to build your sustainability story into your brand's DNA. Key points on how to decide what your story includes with a system to navigate what you will and won't compromise on. How to create messaging around your sustainability initiatives that won't come across as greenwashing or lecturing, but instead engage consumers. How to build a campaign to launch your sustainability story and brand. And finally, tips on how to structure effective media outreach and utilize social media channels.

• B (Panel)
  Eco-friendly textile production and sourcing- Eric Henry will be speaking about connecting textiles back to the US. Creating an economic model of local transparent businesses intended to create more jobs, especially in NC. 

• C (Workshop)
  Intro to Eco-Friendly Textiles - What is an eco-textile? Where does it come from and how is it produced? In this one hour hands-on workshop we will answer these questions and more. Plus, you will get to take home samples a variety of eco-friendly fabrics. Instructors include: Oami Powers of Judah Ross & Belinda Paige Blakely of Belindabilly. 

11:30am - 1:00pm : Networking Lunch at Marriott Ballroom 

1:15pm - 2:15pm : Second Session of Workshops, Lectures, and Panel Discussions

• A (Lecture)
  "I'm in the Middle of a Chain Reaction": Product Development: 5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Supply Chain | Featuring Susie Breuer - What is product development? What does it actually mean and why is it integral to the smooth efficiency of your supply chain? We’ll break down 5 challenges found in the product development process to show how your supply chain can by improved by simple adjustments in your information flow, vendor communication, key dates planning, on going sourcing or by just being flexible. We’ll look together at the bottlenecks that can occur, and we’ll discuss, as a group, solutions for collections large and small.

• B (Panel)
  Local Focus on Sustainable Design - Local experts discuss: Where can you find awesome eco-fashion in North Carolina? What is being done to further the industry in this state? What is working and what can be improved? Featured guests include: Eric Henry of TS Designs, Ryan Hurley of Vert & Vogue, and Aly Khalifa of LYF Shoes 

• C (Workshop)
  Intro to Tailoring - How do I make this garment fit properly? In this one hour hands-on workshop instructor Kate Carroll, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Textile and Apparel Technology and Management at the NC State University College of Textiles, will show you how to transform that oversized, ill-fitting thrift store find into a well-tailored garment to be proud of. Please bring a shirt, dress, or skirt that is a little large on you.

2:30pm - 3:30pm : Third Session of Workshops, Lectures, and Panel Discussions

• A (Lecture)
  Becoming an Eco-conscious consumer - resources and insight for customers who want to make eco-friendly choices when purchasing clothing and textiles with featured guest Kate Black of Magnifeco magazine. 

• B (Double Lecture)
  Innovative Business Models in a Tranforming Industry - How to Differentiate as a Small Fashion Design Business in a Fast-fashion Obsessed World with featured guest Tara St James and Flash Sales+ Maker Story+ Lean Startup Method= Traction with featured guest Nathan Rothstein of Project Repat. 

• C (Workshop) 
  Dyeing & Printing: Eco-friendly Methods - In this one hour workshop you will learn about several different types of eco-friendly dyeing and printing techniques from industry professionals. Plus, you will get to see examples of these techniques as finished products. This worksshop will be led by the industry's dyeing expert, Chuck Stewart. 

4:00pm - 5:00pm : Networking Cocktail Hour 

5:00pm - 8:00pm : Break for Dinner

8:00pm - 9:00pm : Pre-Fashion Show Cocktail Hour 

9:00pm - 10:30pm : 5th Annual Eco-fashion Show 

Sunday

9:00am - 10:30am : Breakfast with Speaker Beth Doane - Beth will share how her many mistakes, adventures, and misfortunes led to her to create one of the fastest growing sustainable clothing brands on the market today and how other designers can achieve their goals. Beth uses her expertise of eco- fabrics and socially conscious production to help major corporations make a difference and will show through case studies and personal stories how we can change the world when we put people before profit and follow our passion. 

10:00am - 3:00pm : Marketplace

1:00pm - 2:30pm : Lunch with Speaker David Peck - David will be speaking about the role of domestic manufacturing, including its current state and its ability to expand. David sees domestic manufacturing as a part of a much larger issue which includes issues such as education and sustainability.

**Please note: Schedule subject to change. Please check back often for updates.